Harmer, Steyn script Windies collpase, hand South Africa easy target

Cape Town: Marlon Samuels played one big shot too many and set off a West Indian collapse on the fourth day of the third and final Test against South Africa at Newlands on Monday (January 5).

Dale Steyn. Pic/AFP

West Indies collapsed from 182 for 3 to 215 all out, losing seven wickets for 33 runs in 15 overs. That left South Africa needing 124 to win. They were 9 for 1 at close after Sulieman Benn bowled Alviro Petersen in the last over of an extended afternoon's play following a lengthy rain delay.

Samuels made 74, sharing partnerships of 68 with Leon Johnson (44) and Shivnarine Chanderpaul (50) before holing out to long-on against Simon Harmer.

Samuels, who said after making a century in the second Test in Port Elizabeth that he didn't like to be dominated by spin bowlers, was highly aggressive against Harmer, who made his debut in this Test. Samuels faced 150 balls in making his 74, but hit 46 off 47 deliveries from Harmer. The assault included two sixes.

But Hashim Amla, the South Africa captain, persisted with Harmer, who switched ends. Samuels went down the pitch and hit the ball high towards long-on. The ball held up just enough into the wind for Dean Elgar to make a good running catch close to the boundary.

The breakthrough achieved, Amla brought back Dale Steyn, who produced a superb spell of fast reverse swing bowling. He bowled Jermaine Blackwood with a ball that swung in and then straightened to hit off stump, and had Denesh Ramdin caught at square leg.

Harmer picked up two more wickets, with Jason Holder chipping to midwicket and Jerome Taylor hitting recklessly to deep midwicket.

Steyn had Benn caught behind and Chanderpaul was run out off a direct hit from Temba Bavuma at backward point to complete a disastrous late afternoon for West Indies on a day when rain threatened to prevent any play.

Rain fell from early morning and continued until after lunch. When play finally resumed at 3pm South African time, there were a potential 53 overs to be bowled, all in one session. As it was, play stretched until 7pm.

Steyn finished with 3 for 75, while Harmer completed a highly successful debut with 4 for 82. Both bowlers had identical match figures of 7 for 153.